Human
Humans are very intelligent bipeds. Although they may not be as physically sturdy as other Sentient races, their technology has been a major influence on all cultures of Demrefor.
They were the first land-dwelling world travellers, being to ones to invent boats, and are often attributed as the reason that communication across the explored territories became successful. They are known to have introduced many different cultures to each other and established the first successful large-scale inter-continent trading system.
It is believed humans were the third Sentient race to appear on Demrefor (the first being nurlak, second being zokex) as there are ancient human artefacts found scattered across Demrefor similar to the nurlak’s temples. They are also part of the old cultural tale, The Forgetting, and there is debate on whether they existed before or after the dassens.
Physical Traits
Av. Height (Male): 5’6”
Av. Height (Female): 5’7”
Humans are a very varied people. Though they lack any largely identifiable features such as wings or tails, they have an almost limitless variety of body types, hair textures and colours, and eye colours. Even their teeth are unremarkable, yet varied; with humans from the same family able to have completely different bite shapes.
They are surprisingly easy to spot among more cluttered races; the hardest people to tell them apart from are the nurlak and the alk.
Common Disabilities and Health Issues
Blind / Deaf / Mute
Humans are commonly born blind, deaf, or mute, and have worked accommodations for these disabilities into their culture. Sign language is a mandatory language class in human schools, aiding both the deaf and the mute. Because of this, humans tend to communicate well with seces.
Hindrian Musculus
Hindrian Musculus is a viral infection that can only be caught and spread before puberty (generally between ages 10-15). Adults cannot catch or spread the infection as their fully-developed hormones kill off the virus; but the damaged caused by the virus to children will carry into adulthood.
The virus targets particular strands of the host’s DNA and inhibits growth. Once a child has caught the virus their physical growth will almost completely stop. They will not get any taller, nor will they be able to build proper muscle tone. It does not affect brain function in any way.
Those who have caught the illness still go through a relatively normal puberty and will be able to bear children (whose genetics will be unaffected by the virus), but they tend to have a harder time conceiving.
It has not been known to spread to non-humans; only those with recent human ancestry have gotten the virus.
The Green Spot / Storm Children
A common occurrence in abandoned babies is the ‘green spot’. This has only ever been found in children found in the middle of nowhere after large electrical storms, whose biological parents cannot be located. It is unsure why these particular conditions are consistent; but finding a child with the green spot is said to be a blessing from the gods.
Children with the green spot usually have enhanced hearing, sight, and comprehension skills. Some are able to breathe underwater, while others have increased strength.
The green spot is the only physical indicator of these skills; it is a solid bone-like lump found on the back of the neck and easily hidden by the person’s hair or an item of clothing if they wish it to be kept a secret.
Green spot children tend to have at least one obvious disability or deformity; deafness, missing limbs, extra fingers, etc. are all common traits of green spot humans.
Culture
No human country has the same culture, and each human-owned country is extremely different and unique from one-another. Humans are very proud of their country’s culture and it is often the topic of conversation they will choose to discuss with other Sentient races.
Though humans have their own cultures that they are very proud of, they are known to be accepting of neighbouring countries and visiting Sentients and will do their best to respect the traditions of their multicultural friends. It is well-known that many human cities will have ethnic enclaves of other races within them.
It is thought that humans have been on Demrefor almost as long as the nurlak and, much like the nurlak race, human history has been lost to time and shrouded in mystery. They have many museums dedicated to their mysterious past with strange devices and broken technology as the main displays. Nobody is sure what any of this technology does as it’s been lost over time, but there are many theories.
Unlike the nurlak, there have been no old temples or cities that have been discovered belonging to humans. Instead they have found strange ships with mummified human remains inside. There were several variations of these ships found, of all different shapes and sizes.
These ship-like technologies were the original inspiration for the human’s ocean-fairing boats. Because of these boats, it is believed that humans used to be a completely nomadic race that came to the explored territories from elsewhere.
These old ships have also been used to create sea-ports; large Sentient-made structures that float in the ocean and provide land-like spaces for those who live out in the open ocean. These structures are utilised by both aquatic and non-aquatic races.
Language
Unlike most other Sentients, humans have many different languages. Most human countries will have their own unique spoken and written language that developed alongside its culture. They all, however, have the same base language from which these languages were developed, which is known as Old Human.
One thing that is consistent in all human countries is their education of sign language; which is taught as one of their primary languages alongside International and their country’s own language. All human sign languages are unique to their country, though many share similarities.
Human laughter is as diverse as the rest of their languages. Humans will laugh in varies ways, from choke-snorting to quiet panting to an explosive scream of joy. Some humans don’t laugh at all and simply say “that’s funny” in order to express joy.
Naming Conventions
Human naming conventions change from country-to-country and are as varied as their languages. The best-known naming conventions of humans generally contain a first name and a family name, sometimes with a middle name, but each country has its own culture surrounding how the names should sound or how the names are used.
Common Religions
Animon
Aurn
Okara
Emaltoni
Clothing
Clothing in human culture is as varied as all other aspects of the race.
The colours range across all the spectrums. They have dresses, suits, shirts, pants, skirts, silks, and more. The accessories on their clothing are no better: from shoulder spikes to necklaces, humans have designed a huge variety of clothes.
Humans are known to be happy to share their clothing designs with other Sentients. They have also taken inspiration from many other cultures, and it is not hard to find clothing in human countries that resemble those worn by other Sentient races.
Armour
Human armour tends to be made of very bulky, painted metal. It’s based off old armour that was discovered on ancient human remains. It’s design is encumbering, but also very good at protecting its wearer from harm.
Their helmets have thick glass visors and small metal grates at the mouth for breathing. Many who wear the armour complain that it makes it hard to hear what is going on around them.
The armour is very useful for long-distance combat using things such as archery, but in close-combat the armour can be very restricting due to its bulky build. Instead, close-range combatants will strip their armour down to the bare minimum; usually only keeping things such as chest-plates, gloves, and greaves.
Other
In 4,623 AE a human woman, Angelica Monroe, invented the typewriter. Though typewriters are cheaper than they were when Angelica initially began selling them, the manufacturing process still remains a closely guarded family secret. Newly-made typewriter prices start at 1,000 gold and end at 25,000. The biggest market for the typewriter is in the Felinic Gallamor, where wealthy schools often provide their students with typewriters for their classwork.
Humans are known for their love of small and shiny trinkets such as coins, dice, and glitter. They collect them and decorate their homes with them.
Humans are found all over Demrefor, and there is documented evidence that there are human societies living outside the explored territories.